Stars and their kids gathered in Santa Monica on Sunday afternoon to raise money for P.S. Arts’ biggest fundraiser of the year. The organization, which provides education in the arts to children in underserved public schools and communities, hosted its “Express Yourself” event in Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport.
“It’s an amazing event,” actor Mark Feuerstein told The Hollywood Reporter on the red carpet. “The fact that it does good for exposing children to the arts makes it the win-win of all events, all year round.”
Inside, the hangar was transformed into a colorful tapestry of tents, art displays, photo booths, arts and crafts tables, and even a “silent DJ” room in which children — and grown-ups — donned glowing headphones and danced to a live DJ.
“I think you learn a lot about your kids, and they learn a lot about themselves, through art,” Parks and Recreation star Adam Scott told THR. “To think that could go away, I think, is tragic.”
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Also on hand at the event were sponsored booths from such L.A. eateries as Mastro’s and Sweet Greens, while the kids could nosh on pizza from Fresh Brothers or enjoy a refreshing cup of lemonade — served from a wooden stand, of course — from Lemonade.
“There’s nothing more important than kids having the opportunity to express themselves,” said It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Mary Elizabeth Ellis, who attended the event with her husband and Sunny co-star Charlie Day and their son. “I think that it opens up doors for other subjects and gives voice to these kids that might not have an opportunity for that.”
“It’s crazy that we have to do this,” said Day. “We don’t say we have talk more about football, but you do with the arts.”
This year marks P.S. Arts’ 26th anniversary and funds raised at the “Express Yourself” event will go to help maintain the organization’s dance, music, theater and visual arts education programs in Southern California.